Kejriwal meets AP CM to discuss Mahaghatbandhan’s roadmap

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener Arvind Kejriwal met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Chief Chandrababu Naidu to discuss the action plan of non-BJP parties (Mahaghatbandhan) along with Common Minimum Programme (CMP) and the possibility of a pre-poll alliance.

This is the second time that Arvind Kejriwal is meeting Chandrababu Naidu in such a short span of time. Kejriwal visited Chandrababu and expressed solidarity with AP Chief Minister during his day-long fast in New Delhi, demanding the Centre to fulfil all the assurances made in the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014 along with Special Status for the state.

The meeting which happened late on Monday night at the Chief Minister’s residence included national issues and AAP’s plans to contest in Haryana, Punjab and Delhi in the general elections. It is believed that Chandrababu Naidu will help Aam Aadmi Party, Congress and other allies in seat-sharing talks in these states.

According to TDP sources, Kejriwal informed Naidu that the Congress had ruled out an alliance with AAP and therefore, it could be a triangular battle that could eventually benefit the BJP. Responding to this, the TDP Chief assured Kejriwal that he will convince Congress and ensure that the anti-BJP alliance of parties comes to a consensus on seat-sharing in states where AAP is contesting for Lok Sabha.

Recently, all the non-BJP leaders of the Mahaghatbandhan including AICC president Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress president Mamata Banerjee met at Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar’s residence to give shape to the grand alliance at the national level and prepare its CMP.

In Puducherry, Kejriwal demanded statehood for Delhi and Puducherry which are currently Union Territories. He tweeted: “Visited Puducherry CM V. Narayanasami to express solidarity with the people of Puducherry. V. Narayanasami is fighting against the dictatorship of Puducherry’s LG. UT status to Delhi and Puducherry is an injustice to their people. We will fight together for full statehood.”